Witherspoon's labour of love

Reese Witherspoon claims singing in new movie 'Walk The Line' was more terrifying than childbirth.

The Golden Globe-winning actress said she didn't realise director James Mangold expected her to stretch her pipes for her role as June Carter Cash, in the critically acclaimed Johnny Cash, biopic until she'd already signed up.

She told Britain's Arts and Books Review magazine: "I just assumed we were using their music and then he said, 'Oh no, you're going to be learning to sing.'

"You should've heard me in the beginning - it was really bad. I was like, 'I can't do this.'

"Singing in front of thousands of people made me as nervous as thinking about childbirth."